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Words and Pictures by Ed Hagerty
Randall's Island, New York - In a hard fought match where only four points separated the teams 37 minutes into the second half, the Bayonne Bombers scored ten points in the space of two minutes to secure a 28-14 win over the Middlesex Barbarians and claim the 2009 Northeast RFU Division II Men’s Club Championship.
 In a match that exhibited great defense from both teams, there was no scoring until the 21st minute when a yellow card was issued to Middlesex. Winning a lineout five meters from the Middlesex line, Bayonne mauled possession into the try zone where prop Kyle Mallory touched down. Flyhalf Chris Arnold, whose kicking had been so accurate the day before, missed the conversion, in addition to two earlier penalty attempts, 5-0.
There was no further scoring in the half until the 39th minute when Middlesex sub Dan Martin entered the game and hit a 40-meter penalty goal, 5-3.
Dan Martin’s insertion again proved useful, as two minutes into the second half the fullback kicked his second penalty to give Middlesex a 6-5 lead.
A penalty kick by flyhalf Chris Arnold put Bayonne back on top five minutes later (8-6) and then Bayonne wing Mike Vogt ran thirty meters for a try that gave the New Jersey side a 13-6 advantage.
Middlesex struck back minutes later when #8 Mike Mahoney scored from a scrum at the five (13-11) but Bayonne countered in the 18th minute with a try by Chris Arnold that covered 50 meters, 18-11.
Dan Martin hit his third penalty thirty minutes into the second half, cutting Bayonne’s lead to 18-14, but that was as close as Middlesex would get.
A 23 meter penalty by Chris Arnold in the 37th minute and Arnold’s conversion of a try by Bayonne #8 Tripp Bartlett would bring the final score to 28-14.
Bayonne (NJ): 28
Tries: Mallory, Vogt, Arnold, Bartlett
Convs: Arnold
Pens: Arnold 2
Middlesex (MA): 14
Tries: Mahoney
Pens: Martin 3
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